Stick-pin retainer.



' Patented Feb. l3, I900. G. J. CAPEWELL, JR.

STICK PIN RETAINER.

(Application filed Nov. 15,1899.)

(No Model.)

ETERS co.. m-mno-Lfn o.v WASHKNGTON u c llrriTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J. CAIEWELL, JR, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

STICK-PIN RETAINER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,346, dated February13, 1900.

Application filed November 16, 1899. $erial No. 737,109. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. CAPEWELL, J r., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStick-Pin Retainers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to those retainers which freely receive a pin,but which automatically clamp and restrain the removal of a pin thatthey have received.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and smallarticle of this nature which is easy to manipulate and which will hold apin very securely.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated by the accompanying drawingshas a shell formed of two tubular-parts of different diameters locatedside by side at an angle, so as to communicate with each other, and thelarger of the tubular parts containing a clam ping-ball, a plunger,and aspring,which causes the plunger to force the ball toward the point ofconvergence of the tubular parts.

Figure 1 of the drawings is an enlarged side view showing a retainer inuse. a longitudinal section on still larger scale. Fig. 3 shows atransverse section looking down on the plane indicated by the brokenline 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4: shows a transverse section looking up onthe plane indicated by the line l 4-.

The shell of this retainer may be made as ornate as desired, of brassand plated or of silver or gold. This shell may be drawn or stamped soas to form the tubular part 5 of one diameter and the tubular part 6 ofconsiderably smaller diameter. These tubular parts are joined so as toextend at an angle witheach other, and the chambers in their interiorscommunicate along the edge of j unction. At the apex or end where thesmaller merges into the larger an opening is made into the tubular part6 for a pin, and at the other end this tubular part opens to allow thepin to be thrust through. The interior diameters of the chamber in thistubular part 6 and of the openings through the end are substantially thesize of the diameter of the pins with which the retainer is to be usedfor safety purposes.

Fig. 2 shows The tubular part 5 is closed at both ends,- but has anopening 7 in one side. In this tubular part 5 is located a ball 8, thatis pref- 5 5 erably formed of steel of a diameter that is slightlysmaller than the diameter of the chamber in this part. Beneath the ballin the tubular part 5 is a hollow plunger 9, and thrusting between thehollow plunger and the cap 10, that closes the lower end of this tubularpart, is a spring 11. This spring thrusts the plunger upwardly andnormally forces the ball toward the apex end, so as to not only fill thechamber in the tubular part 5, but also toextend into and occupy aportion of the chamber in the tubular part 6. A pin thrust into theopening in the upper end of the tubular part 6 causes the ball to rollbefore it, forcing down the plunger and compressing the spring until thepassage through the tubular part 6 is sufficiently large to allow theeasy insertion of the pin. The springplunger readily yields for thispurpose, and as the ball rolls down the chamber in the 7 5 tubular part5 it is directed farther and for ther from the diverging chamber in thetubular part 6. The spring, however, holds the ball closely against thepin, and when any strain in an upward direction is brought upon the pinthe friction between the pin and the ball causes the latter to rollupwardly into a space that is smaller on account of the convergence ofthe chambers in the tubular parts.

In this manner the ball securely clamps the pin against the wall of thetubular pin-chamher and prevents its withdrawal outwardly.

To remove the pin, it is necessary to hold the ball from outwardmovement by the thumb or finger, and thus prevent its clamping the 0pin. As the tubular parts are inclined toward each other at a smallangle, the wedging of the ball when rolling outwardly toward the smallerspace causes an exceedingly-strong bite to be placed upon the pin. Yetthe pin 5 is easily thrust into the holder and can be easily removed byholding the ball from outward movement. This retainer is made quitesmall and on account of its form is very strong, so that while it can bemade cheap it is effiicient. I00

I claim as my invention-- 1. A pin-retainer consisting of a shell havingtubular chambers extending at an angle and communicating with eachother, one of said chambers opening at both ends, a ballloosely locatedin one chamber, and a spring arranged to thrust the ball toward thepoint of convergence of the chambers, substantially as specified.

2. A pin-retainer consisting of a shell having tubular chambersextending at an angle and communicating with each other, one of saidchambers opening at both ends, a ball located in one chamber, and aspring arranged to thrust the ball toward the point of convergence ofthe chambers, substantially as specified.

3. A pin-retainer consisting of a shell having tubular chambersextending at an angle and communicating with each other, one of saidchambers being smaller than the other and open at both ends, a balllocated in the larger chamber, and a spring arranged to thrust the balltoward the point of convergence of the chambers, substantially asspecified.

4. A pin-retainer consisting of a shell having tubular chambersextending at an angle and communicating with each other, one of saidchambers being smaller than the other and opening at both ends, a balllocated in the larger chamber, a plunger placed beneath the ball, and aspring arranged to thrust the ball toward the point of convergence ofthe chambers, substantially as specified.

5. A pin-retainer consisting of a shell having a chamber that is largerat one end than the other, openings through the ends of the shell nearthe edge, an opening through the side of the shell, a ball locatedWithin the shell, a plunger placed below the ball, and a spring adaptedto thrust the plunger and ball toward the smaller end of the chamberinthe shell, substantially as specified.

6. A pin-retainer consisting of a shell having tubular chambersextending at an angle and communicating with each other, one of saidchambers having an opening for the insertion of the pin, a ball free toroll in the other chamber, and a spring arranged to thrust the balltoward the point of convergence of the chambers, substantially asspecified.

GEORGE J. OAPEWELL, JR.

Witnesses:

HARRY R. WILLIAMS, F. G. HOLOOMBE.

